Fatoumatta Jallow Tambajang appointed Gambia’s Vice President

President Adama Barrow, left, and Vice President Fatoumatta Jallow Tambajang, right

WEST AFRICA–– Gambian President Adama Barrow has named Fatoumatta Jallow Tambajang as the country’s vice president on Friday, presidential release said.

Preisdent Barrow appointed Tambajang, who has been acting in the vice-presidency role since Barrow’s election in January is also appointed Minister of Women Affairs in the Gambia.

The Gambian Constitution authorizes the President to appoint the Vice President and Ministers as cabinet members to manage the affairs of the country.

Gambians have criticized Barrow’s government for not appointing a vice Ppesident since taken office.

Tambajang was minister of health under ex- Gambian dictator Yahya Jammeh before being sacked. She then joined the United Nations system in Liberia.

Meanwhile, in another development, the Commonwealth assessment team has met with Gambian president over rejoining the organization.

The team from the Commonwealth Secretariat in the UK on Friday met and discussed with the Gambian President Adama Barrow to see the return of the Gambia to the British organization for former colonies.

President Barrow said the Gambia’s withdrawer from the Commonwealth was a unilateral decision by his predecessor. He described former President Jammeh’s action as unfortunate and uncalled for. He said Gambians never wanted to leave the Commonwealth of Nations.

“Nobody wants to be isolated. We want to be part of all international bodies. This was one man’s decision, and not something that was put to all Gambians. If it had been a referendum, the decision would never have been taken,” he said.

“We are careful and are calculating our steps so that we do not make mistakes. We believe in the principle of democracy and we are positive about our future. Gambians are looking forward to our return to the Commonwealth. So the message is full membership as soon as possible,” Barrow said.

The head of Human Rights at the Commonwealth Secretariat, Karen McKenzie, said Gambia’s membership in the Commonwealth over the years had been beneficial.

“The Commonwealth Secretariat would make an assessment of how well The Gambia met membership prerequisites, and this would form part of the Commonwealth Secretary General’s consultation with member states,” she said.

Ex- Gambian dictator Yahya Jammeh pulled the country from The Commonwealth in 2013 alleging that the country will not be colonized twice, terming the commonwealth as a tool for colonialism.

Source: Globe Afrique Media

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Joel Cholo Brooks is a Liberian journalist who previously worked for several international news outlets including the BBC African Service. He is the CEO of the Global News Network which publishes two local weeklies, The Star and The GNN-Liberia Newspapers. He is a member of the Press Union Of Liberia (PUL) since 1986, and several other international organizations of journalists.